Muddy Waters’ Carson Block on How AI Could Unwind the S&P 500 | #640

My guest today is Carson Block, founder of Muddy Waters Research & Muddy Waters Capital and one of the last short sellers still standing. In today’s episode, Carson Block explains why he thinks AI could displace 15% of knowledge workers and unwind the market’s biggest stocks. He breaks down his short of SoFi’s aggressive loan accounting, why record-tight credit spreads worry him, and how he trades that risk with put spreads. To close, Carson explains why he still calls China uninvestable and recounts his hardest battles.

Joseph Moore: How to Get Rich in American History: 300 Years of Financial Advice That Worked (& Didn’t) | #639

My guest today is Joseph Moore, a historian and former professor who spent over a decade in the archives studying 300 years of American financial advice, which he explains in his new book, How to Get Rich in American History: 300 Years of Financial Advice That Worked (& Didn’t). In today’s episode, Joseph explains what 300 years of American financial advice reveals about getting rich. He shares why real estate barely appreciated for a century, why bonds beat stocks for decades, and how modern investing advice was born chasing inflation and taxes. To close, Joseph reveals the five timeless principles that built wealth in every era.

The Secret Sauce Behind 250 Years of American Success (McKinsey’s Rebecca Anderson) | #638

Today’s guest is Rebecca Anderson, a Senior Fellow at the McKinsey Global Institute, McKinsey’s business and economics research arm. She leads research on economic growth and the financial system, in the United States and globally. In today’s episode, Rebecca shares her McKinsey report on what has powered America’s economy for 250 years: natural endowments, a culture of entrepreneurship, and the institutions that harnessed them. She examines labor force dynamism in the age of AI, the $2 trillion cost of reindustrialization, and a global balance sheet stretched to record highs.

Ben Carlson: The Numbers That Break Your Brain About Long Term Investing | #637

Today’s guest is Ben Carlson of Ritholtz Wealth Management, author of A Wealth of Common Sense and host of the Animal Spirits podcast. In today’s episode, Ben unpacks the counterintuitive math behind long term investing. He reveals that picking the wrong asset every year still makes money, that the average up year tops 20%, and that stocks grow less volatile than bonds the longer you hold. To close, Ben explains why patience has never been harder.

Meb Faber's Investing in America, Out July 4th (Investing in America Series) | #636

In today's special episode, Meb celebrates the release of his new book, Investing in America, a coffee table history of the 250 year bull market. He explains the magic of compounding, why every decade feels like chaos, and the surprising fact that stocks become less volatile than bonds over long horizons. To close, Meb weighs today's valuations against the long view.

Bryan Taylor: There Is No Equity Risk Premium (Investing in America Series) | #635

Today’s guest is Bryan Taylor, founder and chief economist of Finaeon, which has the most comprehensive database of historical financial market data in the world. He's just published Five Financial Eras: How Financial Markets Transformed the World. In today’s episode, Bryan explains his TWIG framework of trade, war, inflation, and government, and how their combination drives returns across centuries of market history. He challenges the belief in a fixed equity risk premium and revisits seven decades of negative real bond returns. To close, Bryan explains why the post-1981 playbook no longer applies.

Jim Grant: AI Is “One of the Greatest Bubbles of All Time” (Investing in America Series)| #634

Today’s guest is Jim Grant, founder and editor of Grant’s Interest Rate Observer, which he’s been publishing since 1983. He’s a financial historian and one of the most well-respected Observers on Wall Street. In today’s episode, Jim Grant explains why AI may be one of the greatest bubbles of all time, alongside the railroads and the dot-com era. He reframes deflation as progress, questions how murky the $2 trillion private credit market is, and explains why the Fed can’t aggressively fight inflation. To close, Jim makes his case for gold and revisits 1984, which he calls the clearest example of how strange markets can be.

Charley Ellis on How America Actually Got Built (Investing in America Series) | #633

My guest today is Charles Ellis, founder of Greenwich Associates, longtime member of Yale’s investment committee, and author of more than 20 books, including the classic Winning the Loser’s Game. In today’s episode, Charley reflects on writing the first major book on share repurchases 50 years ago, when the idea was so foreign that Goldman mailed it to 1,000 corporations as a “legitimizer.” Charley also walks us through his new book, Great American Investments: A History of the Bold Initiatives that Shaped a Nation, covering 14 audacious public investments from the Louisiana Purchase to the Marshall Plan. He explains how each came down to one or two obsessed individuals, why Alaska turned out to be the bargain of the century, and how Frances Perkins muscled Social Security into law. As the episode winds down, he shares the lunch with Sandy Gottesman in the early 1970s that led him to buy Berkshire Hathaway at $700 a share — and hold it ever since.

William Goetzmann: From Babylon to Bubbles — A 5,000-Year History of Finance (Investing in America Series) | #632

Today’s guest is Will Goetzmann, Professor of Finance at the Yale School of Management. He is an expert on financial markets and securities, investment strategies, investor behavior and financial history. In today’s episode, Professor Goetzmann walks through 5,000 years of financial history, showing how finance shaped trade, cities, corporations, and investing. He covers the first compound interest calculation, the world’s oldest corporations and bonds, and historic bubbles from tulips to NFTs. To close, he explains why markets have repeatedly adapted through war, crisis, and uncertainty.

Meb Faber: Warren Buffett Didn't Follow His Own Advice | #631

While in Omaha for Berkshire week, Meb hopped on another podcast as a guest. It was a fun one, so we're releasing it here as well. In today's episode, Meb Faber makes the case against home country bias, pointing to Korea's near-triple and Japan's decades-long round trip as reminders that cycles always turn. He explains why shareholder yield tells a truer story than dividends, why there are now more ETFs than stocks, and why tax alpha matters more than chasing returns. To close, Meb reflects on multi-decade compounding — and the mistakes that quietly take investors out of the game.

Tom Lee: The Market Can Climb Higher—But Expect Turbulence | #630

Today’s guest is Tom Lee, CIO of Fundstrat Capital, PM for the Granny Shots U.S. Large Cap ETF, and the Head of Research at Fundstrat Global Advisors. Prior to co-founding Fundstrat, he served as J.P. Morgan’s Chief Equity Strategist from 2007 to 2014. In today’s episode, Tom explains why stocks have remained resilient despite war, higher oil prices, and widespread investor skepticism. He shares his outlook for the S&P 500 and discusses the coming wave of mega-IPOs. Finally, Tom covers his successful entrance into the ETF space with the Fundstrat Granny Shots ETFs.

Why Bonds Are Back: PIMCO’s Marc Seidner on the Best Fixed Income Setup in Years | #629

Today’s guest is Marc Seidner, PIMCO’s CIO of Non-traditional Strategies. He is also a generalist portfolio manager and a member of the Investment Committee. In today’s episode, Marc explores why the investing landscape has changed from one led by economics to one increasingly shaped by politics and geopolitics. He explains why bonds may offer one of the most compelling opportunities in years, while private credit continues to show stress. He also touches on the K-shape economy and why real assets may help portfolios withstand a more uncertain world.

Dividend Myths That Distort Markets (w/ Sam Hartzmark) | #628

Today’s guest is Samuel Hartzmark, a finance professor at Boston College. In today’s episode, Sam explores why dividends are so often misunderstood by investors. He explains the “free dividends fallacy” and how it can lead to inflated valuations and price dislocations. He also examines the tradeoffs between dividends and buybacks and how payout policies influence investor behavior. To close, Sam briefly touches on his research on prediction markets and ESG.

Will Guidara on The ROI of Unreasonable Hospitality | #627

Today’s guest is Will Guidara, author of the New York Times Bestseller Unreasonable Hospitality and former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, which was named the Best Restaurant in the World. He is a Co-Producer on the Emmy Award-winning series The Bear. His new book, Unreasonable Hospitality: The Field Guide comes out this month. In today’s episode, Will discusses how unreasonable hospitality can turn routine service into memorable human connection. He explains why unreasonable hospitality is less about grand gestures and more about intentionality, creativity, and empowering teams to take ownership of memorable customer experiences. To close, Will shares how small acts of care can transform relationships, culture, and loyalty across financial services.

Software Winners & Losers in the Age of AI (w/Alex Rubalcava & Paul Bricault) | #626

Today’s guests are Alex Rubalcava and Paul Bricault of Amplify.LA, a pre-seed venture capital firm. In today’s episode, Alex and Paul break down the opportunities and challenges AI is creating for both startups and investors. They discuss the changing economics of software, what makes an AI company defensible, where investors are finding opportunity in frontier sectors, and why speed matters more than ever in early-stage investing. To close, they explore startup pivots and the tax advantages of QSBS.

Liquid Private Equity & Volatility Laundering (Owen Lamont & Randy Cohen) | #625

Today’s guests are Owen Lamont, a Portfolio Manager at Acadian Asset Management, and Randy Cohen, a finance and entrepreneurship professor at Harvard Business School and co-founder of PEO Partners, which is a leader in the emerging liquid Private Equity alternatives space. In today’s episode, Owen Lamont and Randy Cohen begin with a deep dive into private equity, how to model it in public markets, and why investors are searching for liquid ways to access private-market-like returns. They challenge common views on concentration, market valuations, and explain how investors should think about bubbles and technological change. They also discuss whether the US stock market is Koreafying and the long-term forces that could shape the investing landscape.

The King of Coins & Collectibles - Van Simmons | #624

In today’s episode, Van explores the evolution of the rare coin and collectables market, how grading transformed collectibles into an institutional-quality asset class, and why high-grade coins may be undervalued today. He discusses supply dynamics, the historical link between currency, gold, and collectibles, and how technology and AI are reshaping authentication and valuation. To close, Van explains why rare coins remain a compelling way to preserve wealth and build a lasting legacy.

The Geopolitical Shock Playbook (Mike Wilson, Morgan Stanley) | #623

My guest today is Mike Wilson, Morgan Stanley’s Chief U.S. Equity Strategist and Chief Investment Officer. In today’s episode, Mike Wilson explains how a rolling recession has given way to a staggered recovery, and why he expects leadership to broaden beyond mega-cap stocks into small caps, cyclicals, and international markets. He highlights growing risks from AI disruption, private credit weakness, and the Iran conflict. To close, Mike discusses a shift beyond the traditional 60/40 portfolio toward a more flexible 60/20/20 approach that includes assets like gold.

The Tax Alpha Arms Race (w/ Wes Gray & Brent Sullivan) | #622

Today’s guests are Wes Gray, Co-CIO of Alpha Architect, and Brent Sullivan, Editor of Tax Alpha Insider, which is the only publication focused on taxable portfolio strategy. In today’s episode, Brent Sullivan and Wes Gray discuss how to handle concentrated stock positions. They explore the complexities around 351 ETF exchanges, what investors need to know when participating to adhere to tax laws. To close, they examine the rise of tax-managed long-short strategies and how AI may transform tax planning and portfolio management.

Inside Goldman Sachs’ Alternatives Playbook (w/ Kristin Olson) | #621

My guest today is Kristin Olson, Global Head of Alternatives for Wealth at Goldman Sachs. Last year she was named one of the 100 Most Influential Women in US Finance by Barron’s. In today’s episode, Kristin discusses the explosive growth of the alternatives market over the past decade. She explains what has driven interest from individual investors, particularly millennials, and touches on recent volatility within software and private credit BDCs. Finally, she shares her expectations for the 2026 IPO market, the potential for renewed interest in hedge funds, and how AI is set to reshape sourcing, underwriting, and portfolio construction.